REPORTAGE
The fishermen of Port-en-Bessin expressed their fears to the government on Tuesday. Since the UK left the European Union, they have been banned from certain English waters where they used to come to fish. Amélie de Montchalin, Secretary of State for European Affairs, and Sibeth Ndiaye, government spokesperson, wanted to be reassuring.
>> READ ALSO - Brexit: "In the event of a non-trade agreement, the British have infinitely more to lose", says Pascal Canfin
"Honestly, we are afraid of Brexit, everyone reacted quite violently," said the fisherman in front of the two members of the government. Tensions were quite high in Guernsey, an Anglo-Norman island with very special autonomous status. It took the initiative to prohibit French fishermen from entering its territorial waters on January 1. The French responded by blocking access to the port of Cherbourg to prevent the English from coming to sell their fish. The worst Brexit scenario could materialize.
Diplomatic engagement
"We have to support ourselves, we have to have the impression that the State is with us", ask the fishermen facing Sibeth Ndiaye and Amélie de Montchalin. The latter replied: "Yesterday I was in Brussels, Michel Barnier is aware. We received, Friday afternoon, the diplomatic commitment." French fishermen will be able to continue to do what they do in Guernsey until the end of 2020, then under a negotiated agreement.
>> Watch Matthieu Belliard's morning show in replay and in podcast here
A meeting is to be held Tuesday behind closed doors between the two ministers and local officials. That morning, the boats continued to leave the port one by one to start a long day of fishing.